understanding the analysis of qualitative data

qualitative analysis

• No universal rules for analyzing qual. data

  • No one way to do an analysis

• Very labor intensive

• Requires creativity

• More difficult to do than quant., but easier to understand

management and organization

• Developing a coding scheme

• Coding qualitative data

• Organizing the data

organizing the data

• Manual methods of organization (conceptual files)

• Computerized methods of organization using CAQDAS

descriptive coding

uses mainly nouns as codes and is often used by beginning qualitative researchers; does not provide much insight into meaning

process coding

often involves using gerunds as codes to connote action and observable activity in the data

concept coding

involves using a word or phrase to represent symbolically a broad meaning beyond observable facts or behaviors; the codes are usually nouns or gerunds

in vivo coding

involves using participant-generated words and phrases; it is used as initial coding in many grounded theory studies

holistic coding

involves using codes to grasp broad ideas in large “chunks” of data rather than coding smaller segment

coding data

Once a coding scheme has been developed, the data are read in their entirety and coded for correspondence to the categories. One paragraph may contain three or four different codes

researchers modifying initial coding scheme

New ideas for new codes. Must reread all previously coded material to see if need to apply new code

qualitative analysis…

puts segments together into meaningful conceptual patterns

first step of analytic procedures

identify broad categories- Clusters of codes that are connected conceptually

second step of analytic procedures

identify themes- A theme is “an abstract entity that brings meaning and identity to a current experience and its variant manifestations”. Themes are never universal

some researchers use

metaphors as an analytic strategy. A symbolic comparison, using figurative language to evoke a visual analogy

final analysis stage

researchers weave the thematic pieces into an integrated whole. Provide an overall structure to the data

content analysis

Analyzing the content of narrative data to identify prominent themes and patterns across them. Breaking down data into smaller units

meaning units

the smallest segment of a text that contains a recognizable piece of information

manifest content vs latent content

Manifest content- what the text actually says

Latent content- interpretation of meaning

thematic analysis

Braun and Clarke state that thematic analysis is: an accessible and theoretically flexible approach to analyzing qualitative data”. Seen as a foundational method for qual. analysis. Step-by-step guide with six phases

ethnographic analysis

Ethnographers are continually looking for patterns in the behavior and thoughts of participants, comparing one pattern against another. Use of maps, flowcharts, organizational charts, matrices (two-dimensional displays) can help to highlight a comparison graphically and to discover emerging patterns.

spradleys method levels of data analysis

• domain analysis- patterns in terms of domains used by the culture. meaning of terms and symbols (objects and events)

• taxonomic analysis- decide how many domains the analysis will encompass. taxonomy illustrates the internal organization of the domain

• componential analysis- multiple relationships among terms and domains are examined. analyzed for similarities and differences of cultural terms in a domain

• theme analysis- cultural themes are uncovered. domains are connected to themes and the discovery of cultural meaning is the outcome

broad schools of phenomenology

• Duquesne School (descriptive phenomenology)

  • Colaizzi

  • Giorgi

  • Van Kaam

• Utrecht School (descriptive and interpretive phenomenology)

  • Van Manen

• Heideggerian hermeneutics (interpretive)

  • Benner

benners hermeneutic analysis

• Search for paradigm cases

• Thematic analysis

• Analysis of exemplars

glaserian approach

substantive and theoretical codes

substantive codes

• Open codes—ends when core category is identified

• Level I (in vivo) codes, level II codes, level III codes

• One type of core category is a basic social process (BSP).

• Selective codes—codes relating to core category only

families of theoretical codes

• Process: stages, phases, passages, transitions 

• Strategy: tactics, techniques, maneuverings

• Cutting point: boundaries, turning points

• The 6 Cs: causes, contexts, conditions, contingencies, consequences, and covariances

strauss and corbins method of grounded theory

• Open coding

• Axial coding

• Selective coding

  • Deciding on the central (or core) category

constructivist grounded theory approach

Theories include researchers’ experience and involvements

initial coding

Data are studied to learn what participants view as problematic

focused coding

Identify most significant initial code and then theoretically code